Car diaphragm



June 1 1926,

N. J. KLOS CAR DIAPHRAGM Filed Sept. 30, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jzm/w x I June 1 $526.

N. J. KLOS.

CAR DIAPHRAGM Filed Spt. 50, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1: \/ELE1 IIIE\ j balqs %05.

Patented June 1, 1926.

UNITE STTEiS TENT FEQEQ NICHOLAS J. KLOS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO MORTON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

OAR DIAPHRAGM.

Application filed September 30, 1925. Serial No. 59,498.

This invention relates to improvements in railway car vestibule diaphragms and more particularly to a car diaphragm constructed of sections having single joint corners which join a one piece top section to leg sections, thereby obviatingthe use of pieced corners constructed of a plurality of elbow sections.

It is anobject of this invention to provide a car diaphragm, the top section of which is constructed of a single piece of material adapted to be folded, formed and stitched to permit the ends thereof to be connected directly to the upper ends of leg sections, thereby obviating the use of patched or pieced elbow connections between the top member and the diaphragm leg sections.

It is also an object of this invention toprovide a car diaphragm wherein the top section is adapted to be creased and stitched to afford inclined trough sections, the ends of which are adapted to besewed directly to the upper ends of cardiaphragm leg sections. It is'a further object of this invention to provide a car diaphragm made up of a pluv rality of connected sections to form an accordion-plaited construction between two car vestibules. said diaphragm constructed to permit va-large expansion of the diaphragm sections without unduly stressing the material of which the diaphragm sections are constructed. I

It is an important object of this invention to provide a railway car vestibule diaphragm, each of the units of which are of improved, simplified construction wherein a pair of U-cross sectioned diaphragm legs have the upper ends directly sewed or secured to end portions of .aunitary dia-.

phragm top section so designed. that the same may be folded and stitched upon itself at its middle portion to properly shape the top section so that the ends thereof may be securely fastened to the tops of, the leg sections. j

Other and further important objects of this inventionwill be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings. This'invention (in a preferred form) .is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings I Figure 1 is a side elevation of an improved car diaphragm embodying the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is a central vertical section of the car diaphragm taken on the line 11-11 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail Section taken on the line III-III of Figure Figure 4: is a developed plan view of the top section of the diaphragm.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the top section folded in half transversely and centrally stitched to show the first step in the forming of the top section.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the top section after the same has been stitched and formed. Y

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through the middle portion of thetop section.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section'taken on line VIIIVIII of Figure 2. a

As shown on the drawings The reference numeral 1 indicates a railway car vestibule face plate of the usual in verted U-shapedconstruction to whichone end of an improved diaphragm unit is adapted to be rigidly secured by suitable metal straps 2 or other suitable means. The other side of the improved car diaphragm unit is adapted to be secured to an adjacent diaphragm unit. The improved car diaphragm is of QCCOICllOII PlZLIiSQCl construction and is made up of a plurality of units each of which embodies the principles of this invention. j

Each of the diaphragm units comprises a pair of U-cross sectioned leg sections 3' constructed of a heavy ply fabric or cotton belting with the upper end disposed in a slightly inclined outwardly directed plane. In addition to the two leg sections each diaphragm unit embodies a top section of unitary construction made up of heavy ply fabric or cotton belting. The top section is formed of a single piece of fabric cut in the form of a pattern or blankA illustrated in developed form in Figure 4. The top blank comprises two tapered halves 4 which are integrally connected at a middle transverse line of the blank. The outer ends 5 of the top halves 4 are substantially semicircular in form and are provided with the middle V-shaped notch or recess 6. The top blank A is adapted to be folded along a middle transverse line so that one half section will be disposed upon the other as illustrated in Figure 5 after which the blank is sewed or stitched transversely along the angled line 7 to form atwo ply triangular transverse web 8. The blank is now adapted to be opened up to permit the web portion 8 to be bent over and stitched to the body of the top blank by means of the stitching 9, thereby affording a three ply thickness of material at substantially the middle portion 10 of the top unit. The widest part of the folded web section 8 is at the center and said web tapers outwardly in both directions to the side edges of the margins of the top unit blank. Vith the blank folded and stitched transversely of its middle portion as described, the blank may be folded or rolled longitudinally into a channel shape as illustrated in Figure 6 wherein the longitudinal margins of the tapered portions 4 of the blank form substantially a straight line 11.

IVith the top blank A stitched and formed into the completed shape illustrated in Figure 6 the margins or edges formed by the V-shaped notches 6 assume a U-shaped contour which is complemental to the con tour of the upper ends of the diaphragm legs 3. The U-shaped upper margins of the leg sections 3 may now be stitched or otherwise secured to the margins of the recesses 6 of the top unit to rigidly hold the top unit connected to the upper ends of the dia hragm legs.

he completed car diaphragm unit comprises a pair of leg sections 3 and the top unit as illustrated in Figure 2 with said leg sections stitched or otherwise rigidly se cured to the ends of the top section along the lines 12. The blank when formed into the shape illustrated in Figure 6 has the longitudinal middle portions of the top end sections extending downwardly from the middle stitched portion 10 in an inclined plane to form the angular arch at 13. This peculiar shaping and forming of the blank A affords deep pockets or inclined chutes in the upper portion of the top section directed downwardly from the middle of the top unit towards each side of the diaphragm so that cinders, water, etc, falling into the top section of the diaphragm may be readily discharged therefrom.

A pair of the improved car diaphragm units may be positioned adjacent one another and rigidly secured together along abutting margins at 14 which abutting margins may be covered by a U-cross section or channel metal retaining strip 15 of a substantial U-shaped form as illustrated in Figure 2. Any number of car diaphragm units may thus be connected one with the other to form the completed accordionplaited diaphragm of any required size.

The formation of a diaphragm top section out of a single piece of material cut into the form of the blank A affords a top -section, the notched ends of which may be secured directly to the upper ends of the diaphragm leg sections with but a single corner joint, thereby affording not only a simplified construction but one in which the top sections are deeply recessed to permit the discharge of water and cinders therefrom as well as affording a construction which will permit a wide transverse expansion of the complete diaphragm without undue stress being exerted upon the material forming the diaphragm. This feature is particularly important since it affords a complete railway car diaphragm adapted to be opened and closed when connected cars round either sharp or gradual corners.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not pur se limiting the patent granted hereon, ot ierwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invent1on:

1. A car diaphragm unit comprising a pair of leg sections and a unitary top section folded and stitched transversely at its middle portion to permit the end portions to be secured with a single joint to the upper ends of the leg sections.

2. A car diaphragm unit comprising a pair of leg sections of substantially U- shaped cross section, and a unitary top section connected to said leg sections by means of single corner joints, said top section having the middle portion thereof stitched transversely to form a two ply web which is bent over and stitched to the body portion of the top section.-

3. A car diaphragm comprising leg sections and a separate unitary top section connecting the same, with said top section constructed of a unitary blank so siaped to permit the same to be folded and stitched at one portion only to cause the top section to assume its required form.

4:. A railway car diaphragm comprising a plurality of diaphragm units, means for. connecting said units one to the other with said units each comprising a pair of leg sections connected by a unitary top section having the middle portion thereof folded and stitched transversely to cause the top section to assume its required form.

5. A car diaphragm unit comprising a pair of leg sections, and a unitary top section connected thereto by means of single corner joints, said top section being constructed of a blank comprising two ta ered halves, the outer end portions of whic are rounded and provided with angle notches.

6. The combination with a pair of car diaphragm legs, of a top section connecting said legs, with. said top section constructed of a single piece of material having notched rounded ends, with the middle portion of the material folded and stitched to form a transverse Web.

7. A car diaphragm top unit constructed of a one piece blank shaped to form a pair of tapered half sections, the outer ends of which are rounded and have segment shaped portions cut therefrom to form angled recesses. I

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

NICHOLAS J. KLOS. 

